Anti-freeze feeder for pipe lines



Jan. 5, 1932. c. w. coY 1,839,836

ANTIFREEZE FEEDER FOR PIPE LINES Filed Sept. 27, 1929 F g.1. 2a

EV f.;:w' I

" INVENTOR.

' ATTORNE.

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE CHARLES w. coy; oFonEon'rA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To ANDREW r.

GERMOND, or oiv'noivrn, NEW YORK ANTI-FREEZE FEEDER FOB PIPE LINES Applicationffiled September 27, 1929. SerialNo. 395,645.

This invention relates to an anti-freeze feeder designed primarily for use in connection with underground air lines, but it is tobe understood that a, feeder in accordance with this invention may be employed in anyconnection for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a feeder for installation with respect to an air line for feeding into the latter, alcohol or other freezing preventive in aquantity to readily mix with the air to reduce to a minimum the possibility of thefreezing up of the line.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a feeder for the purpose referred to including means-for regulating the feed'of the alcohol to the line, and further including means to ascertain if the amount of the alcohol fed is as desired. i T

' A further object of theinvention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an

alcohol feeder for the purpose referred to including a container forthe alcoholand further including means leading from the container to theair line for'feeding' to the latter 4 a regulatable amount of alcohol, and with the latter, when fed being of such proportions as to readily mix with the air supplied to or forced through the air line.

r A further object of the invention is to pro- 7 vide, in a'manner as hereinafter set forth, an alcohol feeder for the purpose set forth whereby the alcohol is fed to the line in a drip-like" manner, and further including means whereby the feed can be regulated in a manner as desired.

- Further objects of the invention are toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an alcohol feeder for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, including means whereby alcohol can be supplied for the purpose of thawing out a frozen air line, thoroughly eflicient in its use to-preventlthe freezing of the line after the line has beenlthawed out or if the line has not been frozen, regulatable, readily installed with respect, tothe airline, and comparatively in--' expensive to, manufacture. r

- With the foregoing-and other objects in View the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter. more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying 5O drawings, whereinis shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resortedto which fall within thescope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views z- Figure 1 is a front elevation ofan alcohol feeder in accordance with this invention showing the adaptation thereof in connection withan air line. i

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device looking in the, direction of the arrow, Figure 1.

Figure 31s a fragmentary sectional vlew,

upontan enlarged scale and looking inthe direction of the arrow, Figure 1.

As illustrated the air line which is referred to generally at A includes a-section 1, ascotion' 2 and a section 3. VA coupling union 4 is interposed between sections 1-, and 2. An elbowcoupling .5 is interposed between sec tions 1 and 3. A globe valve 6 is interposed in section 3. The union 4 which isrin the form of a sleeve is formed with an opening 7 and a peripheral boss 8 surrounding opening 7. Interposed in section 3 is a T-coupling 9. The foregoing elements are illustrated for the purpose of showing the adaptation of a feeder, in accordancewith this invention with respect to an air line.-

-lhe feeder'comprises a container member into a dropper '15 consisting of an inverted,

conoidal shaped body 16 formed with an axial bore 17 which graduallydecreasesin diameter from its upper to its lower end, the latter being the discharge end of the dropper. The upper portion of the body 16 is formed with a recess or pocket 18 having a threaded wall and into the pocket 18 extends the pipe branch 14 and the latter threadedly engages with the wall of the pocket 18 whereby. the

pipe branch 14: is secured to the dropper 15. The lower end of the pipe branch 1i registers with the upperend of the bore 17.

The dropper 15 extends into the upper end of a tubular sight glass 19 of appropriate length and which has mounted on and secured to its upper end an annular cap member 20 through which the dropper 15 extends, as well 'as being secured thereto. The dropper 15 depends a substantialdistance in the glass 19. below the cap member 20. The lower end ofglass 19has secured thereto a flanged capi piece 21 formed with an axial opening 22 having a threaded wall and engaging with such wall, aswell as depending from thecap piece/21 is anangle-shaped pipe branch 23 which'is coupled to a pipebranch 24 as at25.

Secured to thethreaded wall of the opening 7 and projecting laterally from the union et is ja pipe branch 25 which'opens into a needle valve 26. The pipe'branch 24L opens into the needle valve'26. The valve 26pmvides means for closing the air line tothe glass 19 and-also for regulating the passage of alcohol into the air line. The'connection between union i and tubular sight glass 19 and provided by the elements 23, 24:, 2 5,- 25 and 26 is disposed at an inclination with respect to'union 4; and sight glass 19.

Secured to the upper end of the container 1 is a T-coupling27 into which 'opens a'supply pipe 28 carrying aglobe valve 29 for the purpose ofclosing pipe 28 if desired.

Extending from the T-coupling 9-is a pipe section 30 which opens into the housing of globe v'a'lve;31. Leading from the 'T-coupling 27 is a pipe branch 32 which opens into an elbow 83, the latter communicating with a pipe section-3i whichis connected by a union 35toapipe section 36, the latter opening into the housing ofthe regulating valve31.

- Connected to the container 12 and disposed laterally with-respect thereto is a gauge'36. A by passis-provided by the T-coupling 27 and elements 30 to'36 inclusive for supplying alcohol in a large quantity to the air line for the purpose of thawing it if it has been frozen up; Under normal conditions the alcohol is supplied to the air line in a V regulatable amountthrough the supply means of the feeder and such supply means consists vof the elements 12 to 26 inclusiveand the union 4:.

:Whenthe feed of the alcohol is had through theisupplymeans that portion oftlie device forming the by-pass is closedand when 'the supplymeans of the'feeder is not employed the valves/'13 and 26 are closed. The-glass 19 provides means whereby. one can ascertain if tainer 10.

the alcohol is dropping in the desired manner from the dropper 15. If too slow the feed will be increased, and if too rapid feed will be decreased. The regulation of the feed from the dropper 15 can be had through the medium of the valve 13.

-"When the valve 31 is opened and the valves 13 and 26 open the alcohol is forced in the air line due to the induced current created by the passage of the air through the lineyandthe alcohol when supplied is in such minute quantity as to readily mix with the air, and under such conditions reduce the possibility of the freezing up ofthe air line to a minimum.- The gauge 36 is for the purpose of determining the amount of alcohol within the con- It is thought the many-advantagesof'a'n alcohol feeder, .in accordancdwith this invention and for the purpose set forthcan be readily understood, and although the-preferred embodiment of the invention is .as illustrated and described, yet it-:is 'tobesunderstood that changes in theide'tails of construction can be had which will fall Withinthe scope of the invention as-claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In ananti-freeze preventive feeder'for compressed air lines, the combination-I of a pair of communicating sectionsrof thena-ir line disposed at right-angles: toreach other, one of said sections being valve. contro1led,'a container, a- T-coupling having one of its legs' attached to and opening into. the topwofthe container and another of its legs adapted to be connected to "a:preventive.supplyuline, a conduit leading from the other leg of the couplingand opening into saidvalve controlled section at a point between the-valve of the latterand the other of said sections a cut-01f interposed in saidconduit-apreventive discharge line leading from. the bottom of said container and opening into the: other of said sections of the airline-said discharge line including a pair of-spaced=regulating valves, aldropper and a sightglass-having the dropper depending therein,-said:d=ropper and sight glass arrangedbetween said'regulating valves. V i x 2. In an anti-freeze preventive: feeder for compressed air lines,- the: combination ofu a pair of communicating sections: of; the :air line disposed: at right angles toreach-vother, one of said sections being valve controlled, a

. container, a T-couplingihaving-one of its legs charge line leading from the" bottom of said container and opening into the other of-said sections of the air line, said discharge line including a pair of spaced regulating valves, a dropper and a sight glass having the dropper depending therein, said dropper and sight glass arranged between said regulating valves, and a gauge glass connected to the container.

3 An anti-freeze preventive feeder for compressed air lines comprising, a vertically disposed imperforate tubular element, a T-coupling having one of its legs attached to the top of said element and another of its legs adapted to be connected to a preventive supply line, a valve controlled conducting means for communication with the air line and attached to the other leg of the coupling, a regulated preventive discharge line for communication with the air line at a point remote from the point of communication of the conducting means with the air line and including a dropper a sight glass and a bottom of said element, said bottom coupling the intake end of the discharge line to said element. In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

CHARLES W. COY. 

